The Goldsmith's Daughter

by Tanya Landman

A young girl's struggle to change her destiny set against the destruction of the Aztec empire.
In the golden city of Tenochtitlan, Emperor Montezuma rules with an iron rod and people live in fear of the gods. Itacate, a girl born under an ill-fated sky, is destined for a life of submission and domestic drudgery. But when her father, a goldsmith, discovers her talent for his craft, she starts to work as his apprentice, a secret she must keep in order to protect the lives of herself and her family. But danger awaits as Spanish strangers invade the city. And when Itacate's work comes to the emperor's attention and she falls in love with a stranger, her life takes an even more perilous turn. Can Itacate change her destiny and survive in this harsh new world?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult Historical Fiction

290 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Carnegie Medal winning Tanya Landman is the author of more than thirty books for children and young adults.

Born and brought up in Kent, Tanya had no intention of becoming a writer until the idea for Waking Merlin popped into her head. "It came from nowhere. It was completely out of the blue."

Tanya now lives and works in Bideford and the nearby coastline was the inspiration for her Flotsam & Jetsam series.

Tanya's first books were "adventure stories with a sprinkling of magic and spoonful of humour." But then Tanya turned to crime, writing Mondays are Murder (winner of a Red House Book Award) - the first in a series of ten "Agatha-Christie-for-kids" featuring child sleuth Poppy Fields and her friend Graham. Her new highly illustrated books for younger children feature Sam Swann, an accident-prone boy sleuth and his faithful canine sidekick Watson.

Although she writes across a broad age range, Tanya is probably best known for her historical novels for young adults. 
Apache - set in 19th century America - was shortlisted for several UK awards including the Teenage Book Trust and the Carnegie Medal (where it was voted the Shadowing Groups favourite). The US edition won a Borders Original Voices prize and a Spur award from the Western Writers of America. 
The Goldsmith's Daughter - set in the Aztec empire during the Spanish invasion - was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction prize. Buffalo Soldier
 won the 2015 Carnegie Medal. Hell and High Water - a swashbuckling thriller set in 18th century Devon - was shortlisted for the 2016 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Her latest book Beyond the Wall is set in Roman Britain. Passing for White comes out later this year.

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book when I went to a literature festival where author Tanya Landman was speaking about her books and how they are based on historical events (tribes, societies etc) and this was one of the books she spoke about which I found interesting. I had intended to buy her other book Buffalo Soldier but it was sold out so this was my second choice to get signed.

I enjoy a mixture of fiction and real history as it makes you think about how it really was at the time and with this being set so far back it was a refreshing history lesson with exciting plot twists.

Another thing I particularly like is how despite this character have a LOT of prejudice against her she is the protagonist and we see it through her perspective how strong she actually is challenging the stupidity of prejudice.

This book whilst was action packed also managed to slip in some romance which I wasn't sure about at first but it did work and my emotions were played with.

I do have to admit I almost felt like DNFing this book at the beginning as it was quite slow but pushed on and it was worth it. In that respect I would recommend this to more patient readers.

[Krystle · Rating 1 out of 5]

You know for a book that takes place during the Aztec period, you’d think this would be some awesomeness, right? Hah, wrong! I can’t believe how boring this thing was!

I mean, for such a short book, it took me ages to finish this thing. Mostly because I wasn’t attached to any of the characters and the plot was really uneventful. The girl was sort of a selfish brat and I don’t know, it just lacked tension. The romance was super rushed. How do you fall in love just by seeing someone for like two seconds? Huh? Way weird!

The only parts I mildly liked were when Itacate and her father were building the statues and molding all the gold. I thought it was really neat. And I was thinking that maybe the author had did a good job of researching the time period because her world building seemed developed and the Spanish invasion was compelling.

But then I found out she made up practically everything. Way to let down your readers.

I am not pleased.

[Carina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.

Not only did it outline my ideas and images of the Aztec society,
but it carried on a romance that for me was wonderful.
Even though this is a rather depressing tale, I think it really does touch on the role of women in society
as well as the fall of the empire itself.

Lastly I feel this is not for the faint of heart. It is not a read that will leave you feeling particularly happy
but more of a sense that the main character is stripped of what she has known her whole life and will
have to adapt within the surrounding jungle. But I did still love it because of the angst and portrayal of the
Aztecan community.

[Shanna Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another female empowering book, but not as good as "I am Apache."

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this at a book swap library. A very easy read.

I found the blurb interesting, a nice little insight into a lost kingdom as I love historical fiction novels with some basis ingrained with real history and this is the first book that I've read about the ancient Aztec Empire and the Spanish invading.

I liked that the heroine, a young girl, who as the audience we saw the world through her eyes and beliefs, her hopes, dreams, aspirations to be recognized, to have a destiny other of the doom and gloom that the priests have foretold at her birth whereas her twin brother shall get all the glory and prestige all because of his gender and her struggles as she tries to learn her place in the world.

Typical, but considering the time period/culture, I'm not surprised but I liked Itacate's mixture of curiosity, stubbornness, determination she finds her calling, the same as her father's and she has found something she's good at and for women/young girls at the time, their purpose was to provide a home for their husbands and to bear children.

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay, but I was bored at points.

* Twins are born - mum dies, baby boy is hailed to be awesome and baby girl is told to be cursed.
* They grow up, the boy is given the best of everything, while the girl is barely even noticed by her father until she shows an aptitude as a goldsmith, and begins to help him (even though it's illegal for her to do that as a girl).
* Age 15 the boy gets himself marked as a God on earth, which means he'll be sacrificed the following year, the girl is helping her father to create statues for the emperor.
* Spaniards arrive and pretty much take over the place, then they start killing people. The boy ends up sacrificed to the gods, the girl's boyfriend dies, the father is killed by people thinking he's associated with the Spaniards, and even the nurse dies from illness.
* Turns out the boyfriend isn't dead, and he and the girl try to escape together, leaving what's left of the city to the Spaniards.

[Book Concierge · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5**

A novel set in the 15th century city of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec empire ruled by Montezuma. Fifteen-year-old Itacate has lived under a cloud of darkness since she was born and the priests predicted she would bring ruin to her family. Her mother died in childbirth, but her father has cared for her and her twin brother Mitotiqui. As they leave childhood behind their paths diverge – Mitotiqui begins formal schooling, while Itacate, like other girls her age, begins to learn household skills such as cooking, cleaning and weaving. But when her father discovers Itacate’s natural talent for designing and crafting fine jewelry he defies convention to make her his apprentice (though only in secret).

I had such high hopes for this story. I definitely enjoyed the information on the culture and society that was the Aztec empire. I liked how Landman revealed the differences in the religious beliefs of the Spanish conquistadors and the Aztec people. I wasn’t particularly bothered by the historical inaccuracies (Landman explains in a note at the end that she combined elements of histories of Peru and the Caribbean to make the story work). I thought the “Romeo & Juliet” side story was unnecessary and predictable, but appropriate for the target audience. In total, it was a quick read and held my interest. So why only 2.5 stars?

I was sorely disappointed with the constant message that all the bad things that happened were the fault of Itacate and her defiance of the restrictions placed on women of that society. Really? Cortez invaded the city because she began to apprentice to her father? Yes, she eventually comes to the conclusion that this is poppycock, but the repeated message before that realization really made my teeth hurt. I certainly wouldn’t want my daughter or son reading (and absorbing) this kind of message.

[Faith Chin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic! It really shows a lot of facts about the Aztecs. This story is about a Aztec girl named Itacate. She was 15 when the Spaniards arrive in Mexico (I'm not sure what the place is called then) and started to take over the Aztec cities and empire. Itacate was a talented goldsmith like her dad (though women can't be one). It impressed the king, Montezuma, yet also the leader of the Spaniards, Cortez. Itacate is a very skilled goldsmith, from tiny gold figurines, to massive gold statues for the emperor! Though through her life, her mother died form giving birth to Itacate and then her twin brother Mitotiqui. Itacate has struggled in her life, mourning the deaths of her family. First, her mother who died while giving birth, second her brother who was given as a sacrifice to the gods, third, Fransisco, a very handsome Spaniard whom she fell in love with who was killed by some Aztec warriors, fourth, her own father who was killed by some warriors and lastly, Mayatl, Mitotiqui and Itacate’s nursemaid when they were young, who died of a severe sickness which swept the whole Aztec empire like a dark shadow over the empire. The conflict is of course, Person vs. Person as the whole Aztec Empire has been killed, tortured and ruled over by the Spaniards. Itacate has lost all her loved ones, except Fransisco, he lived in fact. Nothing can stop the Spaniards from taking over the Aztecs. Fransisco, Itacate and Eve (a female dog) ran away to live a new life and Itacate found one thing that the priests had been wrong about, the sun rose without the help of the gods and that means Fransisco’s god and only god, God, it the true god.

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but I am only giving it 3 stars instead of 4 because I found the historical inaccuracies troubling. I think historical fiction should be based in historical fact as much as possible. The author states that she combined history of Peru and the Carribean in with the history of the Aztec Empire, and even combined Cortés and Alvarado into one person, Cortés. Wtf?

[Tanita Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

How often do you run across a book set in the Aztec empire in YA?

[Kushnuma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this tale had a lot of tragedy involved. I also liked Itacate's and Francisco's love story, although it wasn't easy for them as both had different views/ religion and grew up differently.

And when Itacate thinks that he died (I also thought that!), I was heart-broken. But it turned out well for them in the end, so all was well.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book may have suffered a bit in my estimation because it's for YA/children. Liked learning about Aztec culture though and imagining what it must have been to try to live through the Spanish invasion.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Kereesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly should've went with my gut and DNF'd this one the first 50 pages in. It was just okay. The ending especially was a bit too unrealistic for my tastes.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world of the Aztecs as Cortez arrives to shatter it, as told by a young girl with a curse on her head. Memorable

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just okay.

[A [War]Cross BookWorm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read awhile ago but recall very good world and story building. Enjoyed the themes of gender and faith against the underlying historical time period- ending was .... Some unexpected moments (especially as I hadn't read any other works from the author) but relatively satisfying to see how events played out.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com

Fifteen-year-old Itacate, an Aztec girl who lives in the great city of Tenochtitlán, began her life by defying the gods, refusing to be cast aside in the corner and left to die. Born under a bad sky a few moments before her twin brother's welcome birth, the priests predict that she will bring ill fortune to all those around her, while her brother is destined to be a great warrior.

Itacate loves her brother, Mitotiqui, dearly, but cannot help but feel resentment as their paths diverge in life - his to education and a life blessed by the gods, and hers to a life of drudgery, chained to a loom and pounding maize, with no hope for anything better.

One day, their father, a goldsmith, recognizes Itacate's eye for working with stones and fine metal, and Itacate unwittingly replaces her brother as her father's assistant, incurring his jealousy. While they must keep Itacate's involvement in her father's workshop a secret, since it is forbidden for a woman to work with gold, the gods appear displeased, for a fire and then a flood attack their city.

Soon after, rumors begin circulating that strangers have appeared in the land of the Maya, and they are traveling towards Tenochtitlán. Itacate and her father, commissioned by the great leader, Montezuma, to work in the palace, soon find themselves involved firsthand when the Spanish invade the inner court of Montezuma's palace. With the destruction, war, and loss that inevitably befall the entire Aztec empire, Itacate wonders if the prediction made at the time of her birth was true, or if something akin to peace may indeed be found in her future.

Although the author took much liberty regarding the sequence and particulars of these ancient events, I found myself captivated by her treatment of this historical period. Seeing the world through the eyes of a young Aztec woman, one of the silent majority who have left little mark on historical records, brings a fresh view to the everyday life of the citizens of this once great empire.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Itacate was born in the great city of Tenochtitlán during the last years of the ill-fated Aztec empire. Her mother died giving birth to Itacate and her twin brother, and Itacate herself almost didn’t survive. As a result, she is considered from birth to be unlucky and destined to a terrible future, while her brother is believed to be destined to greatness. She spends her childhood mostly ignored, until her father, a goldsmith, discovers her talents and makes her his secret apprentice. But the year Itacate turns fifteen, everything changes.

First, Itacate’s twin brother, whom she believed would grow to be a great warrior, is instead chosen as a sacrifice to the gods. Then, Spanish Conquistadors arrive. Itacate catches the eye of one young Spaniard, Francisco. But when their secret love is discovered, it brings down upon them the wrath of her father and the disapproval of her people. And time is running out for Tenochtitlán and its people. What will become of Itacate, her family, and her beloved when the city falls?

The Goldsmith’s Daughter is a fascinating historical novel that brings to life the Aztec culture and the final days of the great city of Tenochtitlán and the beginning of the Spanish conquest of the Americas. Although the historical outcome is known, there is still suspense in wondering what will become of the fictional characters when the city inevitably is destroyed. Although the author does make a few modifications to the actual historical events for the sake of the story, overall she does a good job of introducing teen readers to the Aztec culture and to an era of history not often written about for young adults.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Itacate was born in the great city of Tenochtitlán during the last years of the ill-fated Aztec empire. Her mother died giving birth to Itacate and her twin brother, and Itacate herself almost didn’t survive. As a result, she is considered from birth to be unlucky and destined to a terrible future, while her brother is believed to be destined to greatness. She spends her childhood mostly ignored, until her father, a goldsmith, discovers her talents and makes her his secret apprentice. But the year Itacate turns fifteen, everything changes.

First, Itacate’s twin brother, whom she believed would grow to be a great warrior, is instead chosen as a sacrifice to the gods. Then, Spanish Conquistadors arrive. Itacate catches the eye of one young Spaniard, Francisco. But when their secret love is discovered, it brings down upon them the wrath of her father and the disapproval of her people. And time is running out for Tenochtitlán and its people. What will become of Itacate, her family, and her beloved when the city falls?

The Goldsmith’s Daughter is a fascinating historical novel that brings to life the Aztec culture and the final days of the great city of Tenochtitlán and the beginning of the Spanish conquest of the Americas. Although the historical outcome is known, there is still suspense in wondering what will become of the fictional characters when the city inevitably is destroyed. Although the author does make a few modifications to the actual historical events for the sake of the story, overall she does a good job of introducing teen readers to the Aztec culture and to an era of history not often written about for young adults.

[Erin Sterling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set at the height of Tenotchitlan's glory with Montezuma in power, Itacate is a teenage girl who really wants to be a goldsmith like her father but knows that girls are not allowed to be and has a curse hanging over her head. However, when she secretly begins helping her father and taking over the craft, the emperor takes notice of the goldsmith's art and Itacate has to go to the temple with her father and create a masterpiece. Meanwhile, her twin brother, who is jealous of her father's interest in Itacate's newfound talent, volunteers to be next year's sacrifice. On top of all those troubles, the Spanish army led by Cortes is marching toward their town with rumors of slaughter and massacre and a lust for gold. This tale of Mexico in the throes of the brutal colonialist change is not for the lighthearted and the ending was incredibly brutal and dark compared to the rest of the book. Thank God for the star-crossed love interest with a sensitive intellectual youth of the Spanish army. Overall, it made me want to read more about Tenotchitlan and Mexico, but also made me cringe with the horrors of it.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't entirely sure where this would go - the cover was pretty, and the review sounded like it might be good. That is often all I have to go on.

It was a good story, with familiar elements - young girl in a society where women are not valued, who has a talent that only men should have. She was marked as 'bad luck' at birth, and that - with the whole "women are worthless" thing, colored her existence. Despite this, she thrives. Her father recognizes the talent and even breaks tradition by allowing her to be his apprentice - secretly of course.

Montezuma and the invasion of Cortes provide the backdrop for the story. The historical perspective is modified, according the author, but done well and believably (its believable if you aren't distracted by the modification). She doesn't allow the story to get too busy - its a simple story line and she pretty much keeps to it.

[Candy Wood]

The Goldsmith's Daughter is about the conquest of the Aztecs in 16th-century Mexico. Though Landman lists twelve sources in a bibliography at the end, she doesn't claim that the story is historically accurate. The narrator is a girl in Montezuma's city--she, not her twin brother, has the aptitude to take up their father's craft, but she is supposed to do women's work instead. When she falls in love with one of the Spanish invaders (who also trained as a goldsmith, and loves her at first sight too), we seem to have wandered into teen romance. She and Francisco even have the same ideas of beauty and craftsmanship, whether they're looking at representations of an Aztec god or the Virgin Mary. I'm not sure why this made the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize longlist for 2008.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I prefer my historical fiction to be a little more complex than this. On the other hand, this is easy to read and for readers without much knowledge of the time and place in which it is set, it offers some insights into a civilisation. I just wish there'd been more of an exploration of what motivated Montezuma to simply allow the Spanish into his city - I don't go along with the idea that it was simply cultural differences, and a thirst for gold, that led to the destruction of a people.
The character of the daughter will be one with whom young adult readers will empathise. Her views are modern and, given the circumstances of her life, a bit hard to accept. Nevertheless, this book is a good way to fill a couple of hours.

[Dils AB · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of an Aztec girl during the height of Tenochtitlan era, just before the Spanish invasion. She was born from a twin, a brother who was prophesied to be great and she was prophesied to be nothing, and even to bring doom to all.

I like the story, I understand that it is not that historically accurate but whatever the author fabricate is quite wonderful.

The girl seems distant, but reachable. Her struggle is familiar even to us the modern women, that we are sympathetic for her but we never think of her as weak.

It is quite predictable on how the plot goes but the writing is fast, attention grabbing and end quite satisfactorily. So I enjoyed this book. Never dull.

Highly recommended as YA read.

[Salsabrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Upon her birth, which caused her mother's death, Itacate was declared by Aztec priests to be a curse, that she would bring ruin to those around her. As she grows up, her twin brother Mitotiqui enjoys the freedom and education allowed boys while she feels hemmed in by domestic duties. What saves her is her natural talent working with gold; her father secretly allows her to help in his workshop. But the violent arrival of Cortes and the Spaniards turns life in Tenochititlan, and the population's long-held beliefs, upside-down. Some graphic scenes of sacrifice and violence, and an implied sex scene. This story of a misfit teen seeing her beliefs and culture shaken to the core makes compelling reading.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

YA orientated fiction based around the arrival of the Conquistadores into Pre Columbian Mexico and the ensuing blood bath and clash of religion and beliefs. Touch of Romance woven in. I usually go for a bit meatier book fare, not a huge YA buff, but wasnt at all bad, and actually bordering on the PG rated i would have said for your average early teen. Things hotted up in the second half, pretty action packed. Quite thought provoking too, i.e on the obscene business of colonial expansion, in this case given the excuse of being in the name of saving souls while in fact being greed for Mexican gold.

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was pretty boring at the beginning, but when things started getting a bit more tense in the middle that became more interesting. If I were in Itacate's shoes, I'd feel all the pain and emotions that she hides within herself. For her to have a such a talent is wonderful and for her to fall in love with a man other than her kind is wonderful as well. The loss, the pain, feelings.. they just come in one huge package. When she mourn for someone, I felt the pain as well. For her to go into these obstacles reminds me of mine in real life as well. It's as if Itacate was telling my story but in different words.

[Sarai · Rating 3 out of 5]

The real action of the book didn't start until about the halfway point. Until that time it was a lot of blah blah blah about daily life in the Aztec Empire, which you would think might be fascinating, but in this book read kind of dry. Then once the action started, it didn't last long enough, everyone died, and then there was a lame escape at the end. And THEN I read the author's notes only to find that she kind of relocated a couple of things from Peru and the Caribbean, changed a couple historical events and people, but - the dog was real.